Peer Reviewed

The article entitled: “Reconciling Student Outcomes and Community Self-Reliance in Modern School Reform Contexts” provides insight into why people believe that New Orleans should serve as a model education system. The article cites the increase in charter schools and increase in standardized test scores as convincing that charter schools are saving the public education system in New Orleans. However, the author states, “even if test scores rise under such a system, the idea that a community is deemed unable to educate its own children should shock the conscience. Lessons from the history of Native American education (as well as indigenous education worldwide) teach us that the unilateral imposition of Euro- centric schooling on marginalized communities, regardless of outcomes, is an act of cultural genocide.” There is something lost when the culture of the community is changed. Kristen Buras would agree with Beabout and Perry’s statement. In Buras’ article, “New Orleans Education Reform: A Guide for Cities or a Warning for Communities? (Grassroots Lessons Learned, 2005-2012)” she emphasizes the role grassroots organizations have on the community in New Orleans. Grassroots organizations as a collective are working to keep New Orleans a community centered city. Buras also offers advice to keep public schools neighborhood based. There is nothing inherently wrong with charter schools, but when they are focused on test scores and the majority of these new teachers are from outside of the community, something is wrong. After Hurricane Katrina over 70% of black public school teachers had their employment terminated, and new, often less experienced teachers were hired. Beaubout and Perry state, “While many local educators still work in the schools, there has absolutely been a shift of power away from New Orleans’ African American community and the once-mighty teachers union that for years influenced politics in the city.” Black New Orleans teachers had a presence in the community, but when they were let go, the Black community in New Orleans lost potential advocates who know what it’s like to live in New Orleans. The governor of New Orleans signed Executive Orders which gave the government the freedom to convert public schools into charter schools without consulting those directly affected (ie. Faculty, staff, parents).

While these peer reviewed articles are written several years after Hurricane Katrina, the aftermath of the storm is still in effect in 2017. The majority of schools in New Orleans are charter schools. And schools are still seeking young, less experienced teachers. Both articles agree that schools should be community based, and promote a healthy relationship between the parents and teachers, but not all charter schools are as transparent. Through grassroots organizations, parents have been gaining back power in their child’s education. Grassroots organizations have been compensating for what the school as an institution is lacking.

 

 

Practitioner Oriented 

In “The Visible Hand: Markets, Politics, and Regulation in Post-Katrina New Orlean” Hurray Jabbar discusses the consequences of charter schools and school choice option in New Orleans. In the conclusion she states, “Rather than the parent-school relationship shaping school strategies and actions alone, local government decisions also shape the competitive arena.” When the power is taken from parents and the community, the local government can amen the school environment toxically competitive. She brings up the point that discussion school choice is not a black and white matter, there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration, she states, “an examination of the variations in market contexts.” Every neighborhood and district is different and local governments interact with schools on different levels. Jabbar proposes we examine each school in the context of its district.